Method of purifying and odorizing natural gas



(No Model.)

J. KOUNTZ.

METHOD OF PURIPYING AND ODORIZING NATURAL GAS. No. 316,465. PatentedApr. 28, 1885.

Witnessea. l/entail Ami-y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KOUNTZ, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF PURIFYJNG AND ODORIZING NATURAL GAS.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,465, dated April28, 1885.

Application filed November 28, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSElEH Kounrz, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Method of Purifying and Odorizing Natural Gas; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a partof this specification, which is a vertical sectional view of theapparatus employed by me.

My invention consists in purifying natural gas by passing it throughsolutions of lime and sulphuric acid, and in imparting an odor to thegas by bringing it in contact with asafetida, as is hereinafter morefully set forth.

In the drawing, a represents a tank formed of any suitable material,preferably, however, of sheet metal, leading into which is the gassupplypipe 6, which extends inside of the tank to a point at or near thebottom thereof, where it forms a coil, as shown at c, in which arejet-openings d, pointing downward to ward the bottom of the tank. At thetop of the tank a, inside thereof, is an inverted funnel, e, from whicha pipe, f, extends through the top of the tank a into the second tank,g, which is similar to the tank a, and there forms a coil, 9, at or nearthe bottom of the tank, which coil is provided with perforations similarto those in the coil 0. At the top of the tank {1 is an inverted funnel,72, from which the pipe h leads into a third tank or gasometer, i, atthe bottom thereof, and extends upward inside of the gasometer to apointat about the center thereof. Inside of the gasometer i is a funnel, 75,from which a pipe, 1, leads to the gas-service conduit-pipe.

Within the tank a is placed a sufficient quantity of white lime andwater (a saturated solution) to cover the code, and in the tank 9 isplaced a like quantity of sulphuric acid and water. These two tanks orand g should be lined with lead or other suitable material capable ofresisting the chemical action of the lime and sulphuric acid.

At thebottom of the gasometeri is the usual amount of water, abovewhich, in suitable receptacles, n, is placed a small quantity ofasafetida, the purpose of which is to impart an odor to the odorless andpurified natural gas.

On the tank a is a pressure-gage, 0, and on both the tanks a and g aretest-gages p.

The gas passing from the main or source of the gasometer the gas isdrawn off through the pipe Z in the usual manner.

The advantages of my improved method are that all impurities and foreignmatter are removed from the gas, and that an odor of asafetida isimparted to it, so that leaks may be readily discovered withoutimpairing the illuminating or heating qualities of the gas.

I do not limit myself to odorizing the gas by the asafetida contained inthe receptacles n, as the odorization of the gas may be effected equallyas well at any stage of the process by placing the asafetida in suitablereceptacles in anyone of the tanks a, g, or i, or in all of them, as maybe desired.

I am aware that it is not new to purify gas by causing it to pass,first, through lime and water, and, second, through dilute sulphuricacid. I am also aware that gas has been purified by acid, and at thesame time odorized by coal peat or oil of almonds, and I do not desireto claim the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. As an improvementin the art of preparing natural gas for combustion,bringing it in contact with asafetida, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. As an improvement in the art of preparing natural gas for combustion,passing it, first, through lime and water; second, through sulphuricacid and water, and, third, bringing it in contact with asafetida,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day ofNovember, A. D. 1884..

his JOSEPH KO'UNTZ.

mark.

l/Vitnesses:

W. B. OORWIN, THOMAS W. BAKEWELL.

